Yesterday was the perfect day for playing a little hooky — beautiful springtime weather and the Nationals’ home opener would tempt anyone, including us. Some of those who gave in to those temptations weren’t too good about hiding them, especially to the media or their employers. As written in a Post article on the Nats’ 7-1 loss to the New York Mets:

“This is our team,” declared Lynette Jackson, 50, of D.C., who called in sick to her job with the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services so she could attend the game with her family. “I called in to ask for leave and didn’t tell them why.”

Lynette didn’t seem to realize that the Post has 700,000 some-odd daily readers, and among those are likely to be her superiors. Today might be a little awkward back at the office for Lynette…

Virginia Continues Debate Over Metro Funding: Realizing that the District and Maryland might have to beat up Virginia over its stalling on proposing a dedicated source of funding for Metro, legislators in that state have once again started working on pushing the measure forward, reports NBC 4. The Virginia House of Delegates is set to consider legislation that would raise the state sales tax by a quarter of a cent so as to provide Metro with a dedicated stream of revenue, a move that has twice been stymied by Prince William County Delegate Scott Lingamfelter, who we have lovingly dubbed “Metro’s Grinch.” At stake is $1.5 billion in federal funding proposed by Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.), which would be used for needed capital improvements.

District Considers Limiting Sale of Items Used for Drugs: The D.C. Council is considering legislation that would ban the sale of certain products that can be used to consume illegal drugs, notes the Washington Times. The measure would forbid gas stations and liquor stores that make less than five percent of their revenue from the sale of tobacco from selling cigarette and cigar rolling papers, which can be used with illegal drugs. A recent Post article similarly reported that District communities have been cracking down on stores that sell inexpensive pipes commonly used to smoke crack.

Area Media Go Easy on Cheney Pitch: No one can deny it — Vice President Dick Cheney’s ceremonial first pitch yesterday left much to be desired. Local media outlets across the board reported on the pitch, but few took the pain to actually describe it. While the Post accurately noted that Cheney “skipped his ceremonial first pitch into the dirt,” WJLA, WTOP, the Washington Times and the Examiner feebly refrained from stating the obvious, writing little of the pitch other than the fact that it was thrown.

Briefly Noted: BWI kicks off service to West Africa … Slot legalization again sought in District … Prince William County sees influx of African-American residents … Pedestrian hit by car in Columbia Heights.

Picture snapped by brains.